DenBR

Following on from "where have all the Newbies gone", as a relatively new member, although I have welcomed a few others, I have usually only posted seeking help/advice, which has been very freely given and much appreciated. Additionally we have been relatively busy during the year making frequent trips to see our new baby granddaughter in Reading plus a few other short excursions to friends and family.
Having only had our Chausson for a year this August, we embarked on our longest trip to date in mid September to the Lake District and then on for a few days near Newcaslte upon Tyne. Living in North West Essex, we took the journey in two stages, overnighting near Sleaford and then Harrogate. The weather at the latter was appalling. We were kept awake most of the night by the sound of torrential rain on the roof with the wind rocking the van! I have subsequently bought ear plugs! In the Lakes we stayed for a week at Sedgewick just outside Kendal. The campsite is on the site of a ruined gunpowder works next to a river which was a unique experience! We hired a car for most of the stay as we didn't want to wait at bus stops in the pouring rain and our van is too large for narrow hillside roads. We then travelled across to Wylam near Newcastle upon Tyne (where my husband comes from) in order to meet up with friends. We pitched at the site there called Stephenson's Arms, which is in the field of the house but only half a mile walk from Robert Stepheson's Cottage - sadly now closed by the National Trust. The site is near the river Tyne and the village has good shops including a recently opened Co-Op. There is also an hourly train connection to the city centre. We also took the van for a day trip to Gragside near Rothbury as they have a dedicated motorhome parking area- hooray!

After returning the last weekend in September, we had a very quick van turnaround in order to depart the following weekend for Reading again to see our granddaughter before out daugher returned to work in mid October. After that we went to a gig at the 02 in London, using the MH instead of paying for a high price hotel. There is an great site at Abbey Wood in South London, 5 mins walk to the station with excellent links to London Bridge or the DLR. We are using it again in December for another 02 gig.

I must say that planning new trips does take up a lot of time, but it's worth it when it all works out right! Here's to planning for 2018!